Cue: 0
0 ft - 9 1/2 ft


Cue: 11
11 ft - 14 1/2/ft


Wharf
17 1/2 ft



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The British submarine, Tabard, cruised under the Storey Bridge on the Brisbane River today (29.3.63) as it arrived for a three day visit to the Queensland capital.Tabard is one of three British submarines based in Australian waters for the training of the Australian and New Zealand air forces.

As the Tabard approached the Howard Smith wharf, the commander misjudged his approach.

A bubble of secret asdic equipment on the bow of the submarine was crushed, but the hull was only slightly damaged.Commander L.Oliphant said he had misjudged the speed to berth the submarine in the difficult reach of the Brisbane River.He said the damage would not affect the submarine's programme.It could still submerge and the damage would be repaired during a scheduled maintenance stop in Sydney after the Brisbane visit.A spokesman for the Australian Navy said there have been three similar accidents with submarines at the same wharf in the last few years.